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Finally, the waiting is Over!! Here's my HTPC!! - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: Finally, the waiting is Over!! Here's my HTPC!! (/showthread.php?tid=96489)

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- Micah - 2011-04-02

Very sweet setup! I wish my menu transitions where that fast and smooth!


- eskro - 2011-04-02

Micah Wrote:Very sweet setup! I wish my menu transitions where that fast and smooth!

yeah i really like my HTPC, altho its an overkill,,,,
if i were to re-do all of this,
i would have picked a Zacate motherboard...

Why?

the Athlon X3 is a total Overkill for what i need my HTPC to do...
HTPC should really only be used as an XBMC frontEnd
and Internet Surfing...

Of course i can do all that but because im only doing that,
i dont enjoy the X3's power possibilities to the fullest because
none of what i do requires that much power,,,

the ZACATE platform really makes the best windows HTPC one can get!
in my opinion of course Tongue

its capable of handling anything!!
only 3D playback is omitted...
and thats till u add a GT430 to your build...

But i still vouch for the SSD!!
Zacate + SSD = Perfect windows HTPC combination Smile

oh well, it'll be for another time....
like in my bedroom, i will buy an HTPC like this eventually:
Image
CPU + MOBO + iGPU --> http://ow.ly/1sjIDB £80.63 inc VAT
2x1GB DDR3-1066 --> http://ow.ly/1sjJ2c £18.24 inc VAT
32GB Corsair SSD --> http://ow.ly/1sjLQH £59.32 inc VAT
THermaltake Element Q + PSU --> http://ow.ly/1sjJbW £37.60 inc VAT
WiFi --> http://ow.ly/1sjLLO £9.67 inc VAT
,,,,,,,,,
TOTAL: ~£207 inc VAT

menu transitions will be just as fast and smooth as my current HTPC!!!


- tboooe - 2011-04-02

eskro Wrote:,,,,,,,,,
TOTAL: ~£207 inc VAT

menu transitions will be just as fast and smooth as my current HTPC!!!

Do you really think with the Zacate your menu transitions and overall XBMC performance will be just as snappy? I have no idea. How does the Zacate compare to the Zotac ND-22 processor (SU2300)? I am thinking about getting the i3 just so that I can get faster overall XBMC response.


- eskro - 2011-04-02

faster XBMC response will be achieved using ZACATE + SSD....
not zacate alone Tongue


remote - oconnellc - 2011-04-04

If the remote that came with the case only does power on/off, what do you use to control XBMC? Not the keyboard/mouse, I hope...


- oconnellc - 2011-04-04

I watched the video and it is very impressive. Not to be too picky, but I'm wondering about fan noise. In the video, something was making some background noise. Was that the htpc? Or something else in the room? Just how loud is it? I'm not one of those people who demands total silence, but having the device make loud noise can be distracting.


- eskro - 2011-04-04

hi oconnellc, the Antec Remote does more than just PowerON&OFF your HTPC...
you can control XBMC with it after mapping the needed buttons using iMON Manager...
why i dont use it then to control XBMC? the range is not so great.. doesnt pick up from far...

SO to control XBMC i now use the Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard
and i wouldnt trade it for nothing else!!
it controls XBMC like a champ!!


- eskro - 2011-04-04

oconnellc Wrote:I'm wondering about fan noise. In the video, something was making some background noise

dont worry, set your Fan Speed to Low Noise
using the speed controller which all 3 fans have
and your good to go!

Video was shot using a crazy cheap camera
which is the cause of the bad noise...


- Fluffy Cat - 2011-04-05

Greetings!

Been thinking about building my own HTPC a while now and this thread certainly inspired me. I didn't manage to find exactly the same components eskro posted and I'm no expert on PC hardware so please tell me if this looks okay. Thanks!


- eskro - 2011-04-05

looks great Fluffy Cat!!


- nemek - 2011-04-05

@fluffy Cat
I think 2gb ram in one module is better idea cuz price will be almost the same and zacate is running single chan only so there is no performance boost using dual chan.


- Fluffy Cat - 2011-04-05

eskro Wrote:looks great Fluffy Cat!!

Big Grin

nemek Wrote:@fluffy Cat
I think 2gb ram in one module is better idea cuz price will be almost the same and zacate is running single chan only so there is no performance boost using dual chan.

Thanks! Will definitely look into that.

About the MB, should I go for this instead? Since everyone seems to praise Nvidia ION.


- eskro - 2011-04-05

i say no Tongue


- tazgrainger - 2011-04-17

Hey guys,
Newbie here.

I had to build two HTPCs and decided Eskro's build sounded perfect, so I went out and bought two of everything.

I copied Eskro's build hardware exactly (apart from keyboard and mouse) with an additional PCI DVB-T card and I can confirm that everything works and performs perfectly with the following small exceptions:

1. The standard AMD fan is a bit noisy for my liking so I'll be swapping it for a 'Scythe Shuriken BIG Quiet CPU Cooler' - unless anyone has a better suggestion.

2. The contrast on the VFD is a bit high and washes out the display a bit - Does anyone have any suggestions? Or perhaps guidance on settings?

They're running Windows 7 64-bit, XBMC 10.1 with PVR plugin, Mediaportal to provide Live TV and PVR.

Eskro, I can't thank you enough - because you were considerate enough to share your build you saved me a lot of time and aggro - Great job!


fan noise - oconnellc - 2011-04-18

taz, please follow up and let us know what you think after you replace the fan?

thanks in advance, Chris